How do Beginners Learn Finance?

If you’re a beginner, learning finance can seem overwhelming at first. You’ll be faced with many unfamiliar concepts and you’ll need to master a long list of new skills. However, while it can seem intimidating at the beginning, finance is something that almost everyone can master. Keep reading to learn about how to begin the process, some helpful tools, and ways to make the learning process easier.

Getting Started with Finance

If you want to learn finance, it’s a good idea to start by thinking about your goals. This means considering why you want to learn about this topic, and what you plan to do with your knowledge. Knowing why you are learning and what you hope to achieve can help you develop a clear plan for meeting your goals. For instance, you can decide the most appropriate way to learn, such as utilizing free resources or enrolling in a class. You can also figure out what specific finance topics you might want to cover.

The First Steps When Learning Finance

When you start learning finance, you’re likely to begin by gaining an understanding of basic financial principles. There are a number of important principles that you’ll need to master no matter what type of financial role you plan to end up in. You may already have a very basic understanding of some of these concepts from your personal life, but in order to work in finance, you’ll need to develop that into a higher level of mastery. Some of the basic financial principles that you’ll learn will be understanding how to manage money and cash flow, budgeting and planning, and investment. You’ll also need to learn how to read financial statements like balance sheets and profit and loss reports.

A finance education also focuses on a number of other areas including statistics, accounting, economics, and business management. Depending on your specific career goals, you’ll focus more on certain areas and less on others. In order to work in finance you’ll also need to learn to work with data. All finance professionals gather and analyze data in order to understand business operations and make future decisions. Part of learning how to work with data will include becoming fluent in a number of applications--like Excel and Tableau--that you can use to help you make sense of your data.

Another part of learning finance is gaining experience using your knowledge and skills in real-world situations. It’s a good idea to start gaining that experience as soon as you can. Many finance classes include hands-on project work that is based on real-world scenarios. Another way to gain experience during the learning process is to find an internship. In an article titled, “How To Start a Career in Finance (With Jobs and Salaries),” Indeed discusses internships in finance. It says, “An internship gives you the opportunity to learn more about the financial industry as you work for a company that can give you a glimpse into how your career may progress. Consider completing more than one internship, each in a different part of the financial industry, as each internship can expand your knowledge and help you focus on your interests and desired career path.” In addition, says Indeed, an internship can help you later down the road when you’re looking for a permanent position. It explains, “Another benefit of internships is that you can build your professional network to include those you're working alongside. When you're applying for positions, these same coworkers may help you secure a position.”

Free Finance Tools for Beginners

There is no shortage of free resources for anyone looking to learn financial skills, particularly if you are willing to take advantage of sites like YouTube or other free training providers. For example, Noble Desktop offers a free Stock Market Investing seminar for students looking to learn the basics of personal investment and an Excel Tips and Tricks seminar that is suited for beginners. These courses are excellent introductions to the basics of finance and are built with first-time learners in mind, so students can take advantage of these classes regardless of the path that they choose to take with their further training. In addition, services like MasterClass, Coursera, and Udemy often offer a number of free financial classes. These courses give students the opportunity to learn at their own pace and to decide the order and focus of their lessons.

You can also find free resources through professional networks and publications. In an article titled “You need to manage your finances better. What's the best way to stay up-to-date with the latest trends?” LinkedIn suggests some good types of professional resources. It says, “You can subscribe to newsletters, podcasts, blogs, magazines, or books that cover topics relevant to your financial goals and interests. You can also use social media platforms, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, or Reddit, to follow experts, influencers, or communities that share insights and opinions on finance.” You’ll also find that there are many experts willing to share their expertise online through various chat forums. You can visit these forums and look for relevant information, or you can even post a specific question. 

Live Finance Training for Beginners

Live training classes are a great option for beginners. When you take a live class, a live instructor can guide you through the ins and outs of learning this topic. Live classes will provide students with the structure and guidance they are looking for to ensure that they stay on track and succeed at their long-term finance training goals. In addition to structure, learning with a live instructor will also give you a chance to get focused feedback on your work and support when you run into problems with the lessons. This added support might not seem like the most impactful aspect of learning these skills, but it will help to ensure that you don’t fall behind or stop with your training because you run into significant issues.

In addition, learning with a live instructor is an excellent way to be sure that you’re gaining an understanding of all of the principles and tools that finance professionals use. Most finance instructors have years of experience both in teaching and in the field of finance. Not only can they help you gain a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of finance, but they can also share tips and tricks that could take you years to figure out by yourself. 

Another benefit of taking a live class is that you’ll learn as part of a group. This can be beneficial in a number of ways. One is that it enhances the learning process because you’ll be exposed to a range of different perspectives and ways of working; many students say that they gain a deeper understanding of finance concepts when they discuss them and work through exercises as a group. In some cases, you might ask peers for help or you might be the one offering help, both of which can enhance the learning process further. Finally, being part of a group of people with similar professional goals can give you access to networking relationships that can be valuable throughout your professional career. 

The Next Step

After you acquire some basic finance skills, the next step is to start gaining more advanced skills and knowledge. There are a number of ways to do this. You might decide to take a higher-level finance class or even to pursue a college degree. You might also decide to gain new skills through work experience. Another popular option is to pursue a certification. Certifications can help you stand out from your peers and for some positions, they may even be required. There are a number of different finance certifications, such as Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). All certifications have different requirements, such as a certain number of hours of education and/or experience. Most also require you to pay a fee and pass an exam.

In finance, as in many other fields, you should expect the learning process to be lifelong. There will always be new theories or trends for you to learn or ways to deepen your understanding of finance. Learning can help you stay competitive and also keep your life interesting. In an article titled, “How to Learn Finance Without a Finance Background,” Harvard Business School says, “After you’ve completed your studies, the key is to never stop learning. Use your newfound knowledge as a springboard to pose questions you wouldn’t have previously been able to ask. Finance is a deep, far-reaching subject, and there will always be more to learn.”

Learn Finance with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is based in New York City and offers a number of different finance classes, including both short courses that can help you quickly master the basics, and longer, more comprehensive programs, where you can develop a strong finance skill set. Its classes can be taken in person at its Manhattan facility or in a live online format. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. All courses include the option of a free retake within one year.

• One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
• Another option is the Financial Modeling Bootcamp. This course covers finance and accounting concepts, and you’ll build a comprehensive discounted cash flow model in Excel that is based on a real company. You will also learn about corporate finance and you’ll gain advanced Excel skills. Students who want to take this class should have intermediate-level proficiency in Excel. 
• Noble Desktop also offers a Financial Analyst Training Program. This class covers core Excel skills, in addition to Excel skills used in financial modeling. You’ll also learn about financial modeling, and build a 3-statement financial model. In addition, you’ll learn about reviewing company presentations, financial reports, and earnings releases so that you can find model drivers and assumptions. Finally, the course covers accounting, corporate finance, and valuation. 
• One of Noble Desktop’s newest offerings is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.

Noble also offers a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.